BAGGAGE DROP
We let go of the wreckage of our past by setting right the wrongs we’ve committed.
A determined willingness is needed to accept our part and not focus on others. We cannot arrive here alone and must invoke al Razzāq—the Infinite Provider, the Owner of the stores of heaven and earth, to bless us with this character trait: ‘Turn to God for help and be steadfast: the earth belongs to God—He gives it as their own to whichever of His servants He chooses—and the happy future belongs to those who are mindful of Him’ [7:128].
‘God is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty’ [51:58].
When in need, within and without, whether spiritually, physically, intellectually, financially, relationally or in whichever way, seek help by praising Allah with this beautiful verse and then mentioning your need.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
Yā Razzāq, make me one who loves penance and relieve me from the load I bear.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ Yā Razzāq _____________________________________________
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ Yā Razzāq _____________________________________________
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ Yā Razzāq _____________________________________________
THE GREAT PRETENDERS
We can draw a similitude to the West calling for an Israeli ceasefire yet continuing to arm the genocidal state to the hilt and South Africa trying the Israeli state for genocide at the International Court of Justice but not imposing political and economic sanctions against Apartheid Israel.
Both positions scream duplicity and insincerity. In the modern vernacular, it is called gaslighting and is pervasive within the media and political arena.
These are not the only culprits. The world, including the Arab world, is awash with duplicitous leaders.
King Abdullah II of Jordan regularly launches bitter diatribes against Israel. But then he intercepts Iranian drones headed to Israel to defend Palestinians against Israeli genocide. Or on the occasion when the King assisted Israel with road trade routes through Jordan when Yemen cut them off from the Red Sea because of their genocidal campaign. Or when he clamped down on his own people protesting the mass broadcast slaughter of their neighbours.
The wiles of such charlatans are given much attention in the Quran, which even contains a chapter al Munāfiqūn—The Hypocrites because such double-dealing is a grave threat to the security and prosperity of any society.
The Prophet (s) suffered much grief at the hands of such men in Madīnah. Abdullah ibn Ubayy, Ra’s al Munāfiqūn—The Chief of the Hypocrites—and the great dissembler, was tireless in his attempts to subvert and ruin the Muslim community. But Allah exposed him and his brethren to the Prophet (s): ‘When the hypocrites come to you [Prophet], they say, ‘We bear witness that you are the Messenger of God.’ God knows that you truly are His Messenger, and He bears witness that the hypocrites are liars’ [63:1].
Three verses later, Allah warns His Messenger (s), and in turn, us, his (s) followers, that they come in the guise of respectability and eloquence but are like rotten timber, unable to support even themselves, let alone those who fall for their ruse: ‘When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as pieces of timber propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them …’ [63:4].
I would have been a freedom fighter if I had been born in South Africa during the 60s, or if I were a Palestinian, I would have picked up arms and joined the resistance. I would have followed Fanon to Algeria but philosophised less and fought more like Che when he joined the Castros to take back their pais or like the Libyan Lion, Shaykhul Shuhadā. My pen is not as deadly as Fanon’s. See, violence begets violence, and the wretched colonialists are nothing but violent. So, I would need equal or superior force. Einstein might disagree with my science. But I don’t need a lesson; I need a gun, ammunition, and a paintbrush, too. I would learn the art of resistance and make resistance an art. Impressionist, post-impressionist, abstract and renaissance. I would paint jagged edges so I could slit my oppressors’ throats. Make them bleed like fattened swine on the block. But Charlotte* reminded me that her kind does not oppress. So I apologised and welcomed her correction. The truth is, I want to be an honest artist and freedom fighter and hold swine in esteem. And do not lecture me on ethics. Occupiers don’t have the right to defend themselves.
Until next week, InshaAllah
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
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